Metallica Offer Stream of ‘Fade to Black’ From 2003 Le Bataclan Show From Record Store Day Release

Metallica have been tapped as the official ambassadors of Record Store Day 2016, which will be held on Saturday, April 16 as the band reclaims their ambassador status for the first time since the inaugural year in 2008. With a special release planned by way of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, Metallica!, the thrash behemoths are serving up a sneak peak with a stream of "Fade to Black" from the live album.

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, Metallica! was recorded live at Le Bataclan in Paris, France on June 11, 2003, boasting nine Metallica classics in all. Among the hits is "Fade to Black" off the timeless Ride the Lightning and can be streamed in the player below. All profits from the release will be donated to the victims of the terrorist attacks which took place in Paris in 2015, including the grisly assault on Le Bataclan while the Eagles of Death Metal were part-way into their set.

Ardent supporters of Record Store Day, Metallica recently released an eight minute video as each member talks about what the day and format means to them. They recall visiting local record stores in their youth, scouring the racks for the newest rock and metal albums. In a statement, drummer Lars Ulrich detailed the excitement of his son wanting a record player for his birthday two years ago and how he has been "feeding him the classics since then."

Metallica have been in the studio feverishly working on their long-awaited follow-up to 2008's Death Magnetic. The most recent updates came when Ulrich told Rolling Stone, “Obviously, we’ve gotta finish the new record now. But thankfully we’re quite far along. Hopefully we should be able to knock that on the head this spring, I would guess. So we will be gearing up and playing shows and doing all that fun stuff again soon.” Guitarist Kirk Hammett also revealed Greg Fidelman is producing the new album and doubts they'll bring anyone else into the fold this late in the process.

Metallica, "Fade to Black"

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